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Monthly Archives: October 2011

Are the Patriots even still in the Atlantic League? Coming off the worst record in franchise history, it’s hard to tell after the release of the end-of-season awards and All-Star teams.

No Patriots were named First Team All-Atlantic League and only shortstop Fernando Cortez — who hit .290 but committed a team-high 32 errors — made Second Team. That means no recognition for annual recipients Josh Pressley or Jeff Nettles.

But the most glaring snub seems to be TD Bank Ballpark not being named Ballpark of the Year. The Patriots’ attendance remained at a consistent level in spite of the losing and — more importantly — the grounds crew and front-office staff did a remarkable job cleaning up after flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and avoiding disruption to the home schedule.

The honor instead went to Long Island’s Bethpage Ballpark.

York’s Andy Etchebarren was Manager of the Year, Long Island’s Mike Loree of Gilette, NJ was Pitcher of the Year, Lancaster’s Tommy Everidge was Player of the Year and Southern Maryland’s Keith Lupton was General Manager of the Year.

The first chance for the Somerset Patriots to wash away the taste of last season will come April 26 as the franchise is home at 7 p.m. on the Atlantic League’s opening day for the first time since 2009.

The Patriots’ 2012 home schedule, which was announced Wednesday afternooon, features 70 games at TD Bank Ballpark, including 33 on weekends.

The 140-game season will run through Sept. 23 and is highlighted by a busy promotional calendar, six 11 a.m. weekday games, a July 24 day-night doubleheader and a June 17 Father’s Day celebration.

For the first time since 2006, the Patriots are not home on Mother’s Day. Their annual Breast Cancer Awareness event will be scheduled for another date.

The expansion Sugar Land Skeeters will make their first visit from Texas for a three-game series May 7-9. The Patriots will make the first flight travel of their 15-year history for a six-game series in Sugar Land from June 8-13 — just before the two-time defending champion York Revolution visit Bridgewater for the first time — and return west at the end of July.

By that point, it should be clear if the Patriots have bounced back from a 49-74 record and a .398 winning percentage that was the worst in their championship-rich history.

For more information about the season, stop by the ticket office located at TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700 or go to www.somersetpatriots.com.

The York Revolution overcame a Game 1 loss to reel off three straight victories and defeat the Long Island Ducks in the best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series. It’s the second straight championship for the Revolution, who were carried by third baseman and Most Valuable Player Vince Harrison. After not having a repeat champion during its first 11 years of existence, the Atlantic League now has seen the Patriots (2008-09) and Revolution (2010-11) go back-to-back. Revolution repeat